A couple months ago, author Beth Whitman asked me to review her book, Wanderlust and Lipstick: The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo, on Travel Betty. I promptly agreed since I’m always on the lookout for valuable resources to recommend in support of fearless independent travel for women. Then I proceeded to get caught up with the holidays, a new full-time job, and planning the two wedding receptions (yes, mine is a wedding that continues to be celebrated!) Apologies to Beth for the delay. I actually read and enjoyed the book awhile back. I even dog-eared the heck out of it.

So, without further ado, here are my two cents for Wanderlust and Lipstick:

What woman hasn’t dreamed of scrapping it all and hitting the open road? I mean, even that Bridges of Madison County woman was willing to let herself imagine trading in the apron for a chance to follow around a National Geographic photographer. Ultimately she decided gingham was indeed her color and stayed behind, but at least she dared to dream!

Wanderlust and Lipstick: The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo is the book you should read when you’re ready to give that dream a swift kick into the planning stage. Yes, there is the typical ‘is it safe for a woman to travel alone?’ and the ‘oh, woe is me, won’t I be lonely?’ talk, but it’s all handled in an evolved and inspirational manner and there’s no dwelling. The chapter called “Getting Beyond the Excuses” is especially helpful for allowing us to recognize that just because our fears sometimes have a louder mouth than our heart, we shouldn’t let them stop us.

Much more of the book is focused on providing resources and anecdotes to actually get your butt out of the armchair and into the rickshaw, tuk tuk, or gondola. Do you want to hike across Europe? Brush up on your botany skills? Learn how perfectly prepare a whole baby turtle? (Hey, you better not!) Wanderlust and Lipstick will point you in the right direction.